For Your Consideration is a 2006 mockumentary film directed by Christopher Guest. The film follows three actors, Marilyn Hack (Catherine O'Hara), Victor Allan Miller (Harry Shearer), and Callie Webb (Parker Posey), who are all starring in the low-budget indie film Home for Purim. After a small mention in a Hollywood trade magazine, rumors begin to circulate that the film and its performances are generating award-season buzz. The news quickly spreads throughout the industry, creating a ripple effect of excitement and anxiety for the cast and crew.
As the hype surrounding the film grows, the actors start to believe in their chances of receiving nominations and awards. Marilyn, a character actress who has never been recognized for her work, becomes particularly invested in the possibility of winning an Oscar. She hires a publicist (John Michael Higgins) and goes all out in campaign efforts, including performing a musical number on a talk show.
However, as the anticipation builds, the filmmakers begin making changes to the movie in attempts to cater to the perceived preferences of award voters. The film, originally a serious drama set in the mid-1940s American South, starts to take on more "Jewish" themes, the Southern accents become more pronounced, and the storyline shifts towards a more sentimental tone. The changes ultimately lead to a disastrous test screening, and the movie's buzz fizzles out as quickly as it started.
For Your Consideration satirizes the culture of awards campaigning and the entertainment industry's desperation for recognition and validation. The film also features Guest's signature ensemble cast, including Fred Willard, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Lynch, and Bob Balaban. Overall, For Your Consideration is a biting and hilarious critique of the Hollywood hype machine.
